SBC 2013 Annual Meeting Roundup

HOUSTON (BP) -- The importance of leaving a legacy -- both financial and spiritual -- was conveyed to 900 pastors and church members at a luncheon hosted by the IMB during the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Houston.

HOUSTON (BP) -- Steve Vaughan had almost given up on his church's endeavor to take on an unengaged, unreached people group and share the Gospel with them.

HOUSTON (BP) -- Hispanics not only belong in the Southern Baptist Convention but "they are here to stay," SBC President Fred Luter said at "Avance Hispano 2013" held in conjunction with the SBC annual meeting in Houston. LifeWay Christian Resources, the International Mission Board, GuideStone Financial Resources and the North American Mission Board hosted the missional advance dinner June 9 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. "The Hispanic fellowship is critical, and our [Hispanic] churches are critical, to what we are doing in the life of the Southern Baptist Convention," said Luter, who was translated by Joshua del Risco, the North American Mission Board's director for Hispanic evangelism. [QUOTE@right@180=Hispanic churches are crucial "in the life of the Southern Baptist Convention."
-- Fred Luter, SBC president]Luter declared that "our Hispanic churches are the churches that are growing the most in the Southern Baptist Convention." He also thanked attendees "for the impact that you are making on the Kingdom of God." Stating that the Southern Baptist Convention needs a revival, Luter said he wanted to use the Hispanic churches as an example for other churches to model. "All of us go through difficult times in life and in ministry," Luter said. "Because the Hispanic churches are doing so well, the enemy will try to do his best to come against us. But you got to hold on and hold out and understand that if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it." Gus Reyes, Hispanic ministries consultant for the Baptist General Convention of Texas and a member of the Evangelical Table on Immigration, led in a time of intercessory prayer for those involved in the proposed immigration reforms. Reyes asked attendees to stand if they knew someone who needed intercession before God due to an immigration issue. In response, nearly everyone present was on their feet. Angel Luis Angel Diaz-Pabon, the editor of the newly released "Biblia del Pescador," also attended the meeting. The Bible version is an evangelistic and apologetic tool that will soon be translated into English and other languages.

HOUSTON (BP) -- Pastors and churches need to be prepared to address same-sex marriage in biblically faithful, Christ-like ways ...

HOUSTON (BP) -- If Southern Baptists and the Jewish nation are to become one, the church must focus on the Kingdom of God ...

HOUSTON (BP) -- About 400 Hispanic leaders and church members gathered for the Spanish "Revive Us," or "Avívanos," worship celebration in conjunction with this year's Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Houston

HOUSTON (BP) –- A 45-minute season of prayer for the U.S. highlighted the annual convocation of the Hispanic National Fellowship of Southern Baptist Churches in Houston.

Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, notes the possibility of a "cooperative ministry resurgence" among Southern Baptists.

North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear addresses such questions about the Southern Baptist Convention as “Aren't the days of denominations over? Can't we be just as effective on our own? Why deal with all the red tape, bureaucracy, and the sometimes crazy people who claim to speak in the SBC's name?"

Texas pastor Todd Peebles talks about his family's experiences at their first Southern Baptist Convention meeting this year in Houston.